'No Discussion On Merger': Anil Deshmukh Reacts To Meeting Between Sharad Pawar, Nephew Ajit

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have met on multiple occasions in the recent past, fuelling speculation in political circles about rapprochement.

File photo of Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar.

Source : Getty Images

NCP (SP) leader Anil Deshmukh on Monday downplayed speculations about possible reconciliation between the two Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) factions after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and NCP veteran Sharad Pawar held a brief conversation in Pune.

Speaking on the brief conversation between the leaders of the rival NCP factions, Anil Deshmukh said there was no discussion on the rival NCP factions coming together.

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar have met on multiple occasions in the recent past, fuelling speculation in political circles about rapprochement.

"There is no discussion on both the NCPs reuniting. The two leaders keep meeting on different occasions on issues related to sugar and educational institutes. There is no discussion on the two factions merging," Deshmukh told reporters in Nagpur, adding that such meetings are routine.

Ajit Pawar and his uncle Sharad Pawar met on Sunday while attending a routine meeting of the sugar cooperative group, which takes place almost every month in Pune. 

The meeting was attended by several senior political figures, including Ajit Pawar, Sharad Pawar, Dilip Walse Patil, Jayant Patil, Rajesh Tope, Balasaheb Thorat, and Harshvardhan Patil, as other officials linked to the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.

The brief exchange between Ajit Pawar and Sharad Pawar took place after the meeting concluded, as participants gathered for tea. Eyewitnesses noted that the two leaders conversed privately for about five to seven minutes at the same venue before parting ways.

On the issue of various local and civic body elections pending in the state, Anil Deshmukh said they should be held as per the Supreme Court's orders. 

"Clean drinking water and governance issues are pending, elections should not be delayed further," he said.

Elections to several local and civic bodies, including the all-important and cash rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), are long overdue.

The Supreme Court last month directed the State Election Commission to hold local body elections within four months, in what would be the mini-assembly polls.